For my last birthday I got what I think is the greatest present a human being could ever get me: a crockpot. And not just any old crockpot, I got a black and white one, which is super cool, but you probably aren't reading this to find out about the color of my crockpot. You are probably wondering what is so gosh darn special about them? In my opinion: everything. This is especially when you are a college student and here is why!

1. Just because mom isn't there doesn't mean you can only eat ramen!

Last year I survived on ramen and other junk, but over the summer, which my mother's crockpot, I have found so many healthy options that I can make with the crockpot. You don't have to worry about food allergies in your food either because you are making it. Yes. You are making your own food, a shocker I know, but college is the first stop on the road to independence and what better way to start on that is by being able to make your own food!

2. Do you know the quantity of food that can be made in a crockpot?

No lie, I have fed 12 people with one crockpot meal, and have had food still left over for myself for the next day or two. Which is so convenient! The amount of times I had to skip meals in my freshmen year because I did not have time to go to the cafeteria were too many. Once you make something, unless your feeding fifty people, you will have plenty of leftovers for not only yourself but other roommates if you do have them. Plus, offering free food, and a lot of it thanks to your snazzy crockpot, is a good way to make nice with people on your floor in a dorm.

3. The price of college cafeteria food these days! Yikes!

Sometimes in college you can spend up to $9 or $10 dollars on one meal and it is like a drink and a sandwich. Which to me is outrageous sometimes. Like, why must I spend $10 a meal when I can just have a crockpot! Sure some of the ingredients might be more than $10 but if you are just cooking for you, you now have 3 or 4 meals in one go which adds up to a lot of savings!

4. You can make what in a crockpot?!

When most people think of the crockpot, they probably think it's the thing mom cooks a roast in for a really long time. The crockpot is made for so much more than roast! There are ways you can make lasagnas, pasta, soups, brownies, baked potatoes, casseroles, bbq chicken, etc! I have even found an apple cobbler recipe for the crockpot! By far though is a sesame chicken recipe that I absolutely adore! My point is, the crockpot has so many options that you can make so your taste buds never grow bored.

5. You know how it's a struggle to find the time to make food?

With the crockpot it isn't It is a slow cooker for a reason! The food will take hours and hours of time to make which can actually be really convenient for college students. Let's say you have a busy day, like 6 hours of classes or practices or whatever. With the crockpot, you can put all the ingredients in and, depending on the recipe, by the time you come back, you have a warm meal waiting for you. Delicious!

If you can't quite tell I am a little obsessed with crockpots, but to me they are so convenient, especially with the busy schedule I have throughout the day. All this talk of food is making me really hungry too. Anyway! Crockpots are the bomb.com so if your thinking about one, check them out!